Hillsborough County Public Schools Curriculum and Instruction
Information Item

DATE: Tuesday, October 21, 2008
TO: School Board Members
FROM: MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent

SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS

Informational Item – Student Licenses for Renaissance Place - $182,966 (Curriculum and Instruction)

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Renaissance Place is the portal used to facilitate Accelerated Reader, STAR Reading and other Renaissance Learning software titles. The pilot schools were Hammond, Deer Park, Oak Park, MOSI Partnership, Witter, Foster, Mort, Sulphur Springs and Summerfield Crossings. The Elementary Education staff worked with the District’s Information Service (IS) Department to secure server space within the District’s firewall and coordinated an upload of the Renaissance Place software.

Reading practice is essential to developing the critical-thinking and problem-solving abilities that ensure a lifelong love of reading and learning. While Accelerated Reader (AR) does not replace the reading instruction given in a classroom and is not intended to limit student choice, it can be used to support the reading curriculum. The Elementary Education Department supports Accelerated Reader as a motivational reading program.

With Renaissance Place, all data management is provided at the District level. This alleviates the school site of many technical issues, as well as, entering data and quizzes individually. This also provides every elementary site access to all AR quizzes that have been written. New quizzes are automatically updated into the database every Wednesday. To date we have received over 2,000 additional quizzes through these updates. No matter where an elementary student transfers, they will have the same AR quizzes available. All elementary schools become equitable with accessibility to Accelerated Reader. This is all provided to the elementary schools at no cost to the site.

Media and technology specialists received specialized, intensive training with an Implementation Consultant for Renaissance Learning. The team left with a tool kit of activities and materials that will help them facilitate training at all the elementary school sites. Afterwards, forty training sessions were provided to media specialists, technology specialists and classroom teachers. This training or “retraining” of our faculties continued on Professional Study Day, August 12, 2008.

Executive Summary is continued on attachment.

ANNUAL DISTRICT GOAL(S) AND CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S)

* Demonstrate consistent and effective teaching methods

FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted: No)

Funds of $182,966 are available as follows: $100,000 from the Customer Service and Support budget (Project # 4500), $45,000 from start up funds at Reddick and Kimbell (Project # 8304 and Project #8456), and $37,966 from Media Services, State Funds (Project #4505).

EVALUATION

Success will be measured through statistical data retrieved from Renaissance Place. This will include usage at each site and the success index based upon 85% or higher on reading comprehension quizzes.

SUBMITTED BY:

Barbara B. Hancock
General Director, Elementary Education
(813) 272-4455
Wynne A. Tye
Assistant Superintendent, Curriculum and Instruction
(813) 272-4221
A 9.01
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20081021_302 * Section A Item# 9.01